Shoe boot shine aid



June 2, 1959 MLB. BRAY 2, 8

SHOE BOOT SHINE AID Filed April 8, 195a 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTD RN EYE J1me- 2, 1959 M. B. BRAY SHOE BOOT SHINE AID 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed April 8, 1958 I N VEN TOR.

Mmesz awe/1y 4 96s ATTD RN EYS SHOE BOOT SHINE AID Murel B. Bray, FortBliss, Tex.

Application April 8, 1958, Serial No. 727,155

Claims. (Cl. 15267) This invention relates to a device for facilitatingthe shining or polishing of shoes, boots or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a shoe boot shine aid which isadapted to be releasably connected to or strapped to a portion of apersons leg and thigh so as to facilitate the shining and polishing ofshoes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe boot shine aidwhich is adapted to be conveniently strapped to a persons leg and thigh,and wherein the device of the present invention includes an adjustableclamping assembly which can be adjusted to clamp or secure shoes ofdifierent sizes or shapes therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe boot shine aidwhich is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the shoe boot shine aidof the present invention attached to a persons leg and thigh and showingthe device being used for supporting a shoe to be shined.

Figure 2 is a view taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the shoe boot shine aid of the presentinvention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the adjustable bracket.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view illustrating the up per portion ofthe clamping assembly.

Figure 6 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and in section,showing certain constructional details of the apparatus.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is an elevational view illustrating a portion of the clampingassembly.

Figure 10 is a view taken at right angles to the View shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the clamping assembly.

Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating the base which forms partsof the clamping assembly.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the plate which forms part of theclamping assembly.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the shoeboot shine aid of the present invention which comprises a pair of bodymembers 11 and 12 which are hingedly connected together as at 13. Thebody members or bars 11 and 12 are adapted to be arranged as shown inFigure 1 when the device is being used. As shown in the drawings, ayieldable or resilient pad 14 is secured to the body member 11 in anysuitable manner, and a similar pad 15 is secured to the other bodymember 12. Straps 16 are provided for releasably con- 2,888,705 PatentedJune 2, 1959 necting the body member 11 to a persons thigh 17, and astrap 18 is provided for connecting the body member 12 to a persons leg19.

Secured to the body 11 is a pair of spaced apart blocks 20 which areadapted to be made of a suitable resilient or yieldable material such asrubber or plastic, and these blocks 20 are adapted to provide a supportfor and engage the sole 21 of a shoe 22 being shined or polished.

Extending upwardly from the body member 12 and secured thereto is asupport member 23 which has a cylindrical sleeve 24 secured to its upperend, Figure 6, and a pin 25 projects through the sleeve 24 and isconnected thereto; The numeral 26 indicates a clamping assembly which isadapted to engage the heel 27 of the shoe 22 being worked on.

As shown in the drawings, the clamping assembly 26 includes arectangular base 28 which is provided with a pair of spaced apartapertures 29, Figure 12. Depending from the base 28 is a rectangular lugwhich is provided with an opening 31 therein, for a purpose to be laterdescribed. The numeral 32 indicates a finger which depends from the base23 and which is secured thereto, and the lower portion of the finger 32is provided with a plurality of notches 33 that are adapted to engagethe pin 25 which is carried by the sleeve 24.

Arranged just below the base 28 is a plate 34, Figure 13, and the plate3 includes a pair of spaced apart legs 35 which have elongated slots 36therein. A web 37 connects the legs 35 together, and the web 37 iscutaway or recessed as at 38 so as to provide clearance for the finger32 when the plate 34 is moved inwardly.

A means is provided for connecting the base 28 and plate 34 together,and this means comprises securing elements or bolts 39 which extendthrough the apertures 29 and slots 36, and wing nuts 46 are arranged inthreaded engagement with the securing elements 39. By loosening the wingnuts iii, the device can be adjusted so that it can be made of a size toaccommodate heels of dilferent sizes, and then the wing nuts 46 can betightened, to maintain the parts immobile in their adjusted positions.

The numeral il indicates a curved lip which extends upwardly from theplate 34, Figure 13.

As shown in Figure 4 there is further provided an adjustable bracketwhich is indicated generally by the numeral 42, and the bracket 42includes a shoulder 43 which is provided with a circular threadedaperture or opening 44 therein. The bracket 42 further includes astraight portion 45 which terminates in an upstanding curved flange 46.Guide members 47 depend from the base 28 and are secured thereto, andthese guide members 47 are adapted to have the straight portion 45 ofthe bracket 42 arranged therebetween. Notches or cutouts 48 are arrangedin the shoulder 43 so as to provide sufficient clearance for permittingthe shoulder 43 to be initially moved through the space between theguide members 47, as for example when the device is being assembled.

There is further provided a screw member which is indicated generally bythe numeral 49, and the screw member 49 includes a threaded shankportion 50 which is arranged in threaded engagement with the opening 44in the shoulder 43. The screw member 49 further includes a smoothnon-threaded portion 51 which extends through the opening 31 in the lug30, and a head 52 of enlarged formation is arranged on one end of thescrew member 48 The ends of the screw member are provided with tips 53whereby a suitable wrench or tool 55, Figure 10, can be arranged inengagement with the tips 53 to rotate the screw member 49. A look washer54 is also mounted on the screw member 49 on the opposite side of thelug 30 from the head 52 so as to help retain the screw member 49 in itsproper assembled position.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been prbvideda devicewhich will facilitate the shining or polishing or cleaning of shoes,boots or the like. In use, when the device 10 is to be used, the deviceis adapted .to be strapped in place as shown in Figure l and wherein thestrap 16 will fasten the body member 11 to the thigh 17, and the strap18 will fasten the body memher 212 to the leg 19. The resilient pads 14and 15 connect the device to be worn comfortably and if desired, thesemembers may be made concave or recessed as shown in Figure 7 forexample, so as to more snugly conform to the curvature or configurationof the thigh or leg. The shoe 22 which is to be shined or polished, isarranged so that its sole 21 engages one or both of the resilient blocks20, and the blocks 20 are secured to the body member 11. The heel 27 ofthe shoe is engaged by the clamp assembly 26 so that the shoe 22 will befirmly held while it is cleaned, polished or otherwise worked on. Thus,it will be seen that there has been provided a device which can beconveniently strapped to a persons leg and thigh so that shoes can bereadily cleaned, polished or the like.

The clamping assembly 26 is adjustable so that heels or shoes ofdifferent sizes can be accommodated therein. The clamp assembly 26includes two main adjustable features. For a quick adjustment of theclamp, a tool such as the wrench 55 of Figure 10 can be arranged inengagement with one of the tips 53 of the screw member 49, whereby thescrew member 49 can be rotated. Since the screw member 49 has itsthreaded shank 50 engaging the threaded opening 44 in the shoulder 43,it will be seen that this rotation of the screw member 49 will cause thebracket 42 to shift or move between the guide members 47. As the bracket42 moves, it will move the flange 46 and the flange 46 is adapted tocoact with the lip 41 so as to grip or clamp the heel 27 therebetween.

Another adjustment of the clamp 26 is provided by loosening the wingnuts 40 so that the slots 36 in the legs 35 permit relative movementbetween the base 28 and plate 34 and after these parts have been movedto their desired positions, the wing nuts 40 are tightened to maintainthe parts immobile in their adjusted positions. Thus, it will be seenthat the lip 41 and flange 46 can be moved towards or away from eachother so that before a shoe is positioned on the device, the members 41and 46 can be spread apart and then these members can be moved togetheror towards each other so as to securely clamp the heel 27 therebetween.

The screw member 49 has its smooth portion 51 extending through theopening 31 in the lug 30 so that the screw member 49 is free to rotatein the opening 31. The head 52 and lock washer 54 coact to help maintainthe screw member 49 in its proper position in the lug 30.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in difierent shapesor sizes.

The pads 14 and 15 are adapted to be made of a suitable material such asfoam rubber. The hinge may be made in different manners or fashions asdesired. It is to be noted that an important aspect or feature of thepresent invention, is that the finger 32 is capable of rotary movementor adjustment in the sleeve 24. In other words, by raising the deviceshown in Figure slightly, the notches 33 will move upwardly and clearthe pin 25 so that the entire assembly shown in Figure 5 can be rotatedabout an axis extending through the sleeve 24 so that the portion of theclamp or joint shown in Figure 5 can be positioned at four ninety degreepositions due to the provision of the four notches 33 in the lower endof the finger 32.

The hinge 13 permits the shoe to be held firmly on the sole grip bymoving the foot forward or by releasing pressure on the grip by movingthe foot rearward and the swivel joint which consists of the finger 32and sleeve 24,

permits the shoe or boot to be rotated 360 degrees so as to facilitateapplication of polish or shining. The notches 33 are spaced from eachother at degrees intervals so as to permit the shoe or boot to bepositioned at any of the four angles, namely, zero degrees, 90 degrees,degrees, or 270 degrees.

It is to be noted that the device straps to the thigh and leg or calfand the foam rubber pads 14 and 15 serve to protect the thigh and legand give increased stability. The rubber blocks 20 serve as sole gripsto hold the shoe or boot firmly when the foot is moved forward, andthese grips 20 are spaced to accommodate difierent sizes of shoes orboots. The hinge 13 permits the foot to move forward or rearward toapply or release pressure on the sole grips.

The clamp assembly 26 holds the shoe or boot by gripping the heel orinstep, and the clamp assembly can be expanded. or contracted aspreviously described. The bracket 42 can be quickly moved in or out, andthe screw member 49 provides a further adjustable feature. A wrench suchas the wrench 55 will fit either end of the stud 49 and can be used forcontrolling tension on the heel or instep of the shoe or boot. Theswivel joint including the members 32 and 24 permits the clamp assemblyof Figure 5 to be detached from the rest of the structure while theparts such as the lip 41 and flange 46 are being adjusted on the shoe orboot. The pin 25 serves to lock the finger 32 and its associated partsin the desired position.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

1 claim:

1. In a shoe boot shine aid, first and second members adapted to beconnected to a persons leg and thigh respectively, means connected tosaid members for engagement with a shoe to be shined and said first andsecond members being hingedly connected together at gle respectiveportions thereof corresponding to the users 2. The structure as definedin claim 1, and further including gripping relatively spaced blocksconnected to the top of one of said members along the longitudinalcenter thereof.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2, and further including a heelclamping assembly connected to the second of said members.

4. In a shoe boot shine aid, first and second members adapted to beconnected to a persons leg and thigh, means connected to said membersfor engagement with a shoe to be shined, said first and second membersbeing hingedly connected together, gripping blocks connected to one ofsaid members, a heel clamping assembly con nected to the second of saidmembers, and resilient pads connected to said members.

5. In a shoe boot shine aid, first and second body members hingedlyconnected together, yieldable pads secured to the inner surfaces of thebody members, straps for connecting said body members to a persons thighand leg, a pair of spaced apart resilient blocks secured to the uppersurface of said first body member for engagement with the sole of ashoe, a support member extending upwardly from said second body memberand connected thereto when said members are in operative position, acylindrical sleeve mounted on the upper end of said support member andsecured thereto, a pin connected to said sleeve, a clamp assemblyincluding a rectangular base provided with a pair of spaced apartapertures, a finger depending from said base slidably mounted in saidsleeve and provided with a plurality of notches in its lower end forengagement with said pin, a lug depending from said base and providedwith an opening, a plate adjustably mounted below said base, said plateincluding a pair of spaced apart legs and a connecting web, said legsbeing provided with elongated slots therein, securing elements extendingthrough the apertures in said base and through said slots, a curved lipextending upwardly from said web, an adjustable bracket including ashoulder arranged below said base, and said shoulder being provided witha central threaded opening, said bracket further including a straightportion terminating in a curved upwardly projecting flange, guidemembers depending from said base and arranged on opposite sides of saidstraight portion, a screw member having a threaded shank ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Brunk May 27,1851 Parker Dec. 24, 1895

